Gas vent



D. L. WERNER Feb. 21, 1950 GAS VENT Filed June 9, 1948 n INI/ENTUR. a/VM. MPA/ff? BY Q Patented Feb. 21, 195() UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GAS VENT Donald L. Werner, New Brunswick, N. J.

Application June 9, 1948, Serial No. 31,887

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to gas vents in general and more particularly to such vents as can be subterraneously installed adjacent the foundation of a building in connection with the service pipe in a manner as to convey to the outer air any escaping gas emanating from such pipe or main which is supplying the building.

It is a well known fact that gas escaping from an underground pipe usually follows the direction of the pipe since the fill directly surrounding the pipe is not so densely packed, which condition is produced to a great extent by lateral pipe vibrations occasioned by ground surface disturbances resulting from passing traffic or any other normal commotion in the building. These lateral vibrations of the pipe tend to loosen the fill longitudinally adjacent the pipe line and as the escaping gas will naturally follow the path of the least resistance it will be conducted towards the building and if not interrupted at that point enter the building and there create a hazardous situation which might terminate in an explosion or asphyxiation of the occupants.

An object of the present invention is to overcome what might become a dangerous situation, by providing a device efficacious to prevent gas, which has escaped from a service pipe, from following said pipe into the building.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device for the purpose specified that can be conveniently installed, without interruption of service, in connection with any pipe previously set up.

Various objects and advantages of the invention will be in part obvious from the following detailed description and a careful consideration of the claims embodying my invention.

In the drawing:

Figure I is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a building foundation showing the gas vent installed in connection with the service pipe. Figure 2 is a fragmentary end elevation of the same. Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan View of Fig. 2. Figure 4 is a detail view of one of the foundation sealing plates as shown in Fig. 1.

With reference to the drawing, II] designates a horizontal gas pipe and II the foundation wall of a building serviced by such pipe. Cork gaskets I2 and I3 are provided to seal the orifice surrounding the pipe, said gaskets being held in place by the plates Ill and I5 which are divided on the line I6. The bolts Il' which extend through the foundation wall secure both the plates and the gaskets in an effective position as shown.

The invention essentially comprises a vent tube I8 disposed perpendicular to the service pipe I0 and arranged transaxial thereto. This tube I8 should extend somewhat above the surrounding fill 20 and at its extremity topped with a cap 2l having gas outlets therebeneath. At spaced intervals there are formed in this tube member a series of apertures 22 adapted to provide entrances for the space of any free gas into the interior of the tube as Will be more fully described hereinafter.

The bottom of this tube is provided with an inverted U-shaped fitting 23 conforming in general with the contour of the service pipe so as to be effectively supported thereby and to function as a positioning means for the tube I8. Lugs 25` extend laterally from this tube in longitudinally spaced relation and are provided for the purpose of suspending thereon a plurality of frustoconical canopies 2li, 2 and 28 having collars 29 at their upper portions which surround the tube I 8 and which are engaged by said lugs, the collars being fitted with keyways 3l so as to permit the collars of the lower canopies to bypass the lugs 25.

The lower canopy 23 is recessed at 32 on two diametrically opposite sides so as to allow said canopy to envelope the service pipe I0 and completely cover any coupling 33 that might be encountered adjacent to the building.

In operation:

One or more of the canopies 26, 21 and 28 are positioned on the tube I3 in spaced apart relation and effectively supported on the lugs 25 as shown, the number of canopies employed being determined by the amount of space extending from the service pipe I0 to the surface vof the ground above. It will be seen that the apertures 22 are disposed so as to come under the canopies near the center and top thereof, thus any free gas which has escaped from the pipe I0 at any point thereof and is approaching the foundation wall Il at any level will be conducted by at least one of said canopies towards the apertures 22 to rise in the tube I 8 and then be harmlessly discharged into the open air by the capped portion of the tube that extends above the ground. Variations may be resorted to within the scope of the invention and portions of the improvements may be used without the others, while not departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim: In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a horizontal gas pipe subterraneously extending through the wall of a building, of a trap adjacent to such wall comprising a vent tube set perpendicular to said pipe and -REFE'RENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Number Name Date Martin May 10, 1887 Gueguen July 5, 1892 Sullivan May 12, 1931 Anthony Feb. 22, 1938 Kimbrough Oct. 25, 1938 Korn Sept. 5, 1939 FOREIGN PATENTS V'Country Date Great Britain Jan. 7, 1931 

